Councilors discuss delayed opening of Fore Kicks

Marlborough - Despite comments from local residents, city councilors announced at their Dec.1 meeting that they are not responsible for why Fore Kicks II, an indoor soccer facility located on Forest Street, has yet to open.

Councilor at-Large Patricia Pope explained that a special permit was given to Fore Kicks May 21, 2007, with 51 conditions that the company agreed to meet before it would be given an occupancy permit from the building inspector.

"We are not responsible for holding up this project," Pope said.

With the building still yet to open, Fore Kicks is requesting a minor modification to the permit; that change would allow them to acquire a temporary occupancy permit while the procedural process of granting a Conservation Restriction takes place.

The council accepted a request from Fore Kick's solicitor David Gadbois to consider amending the special permit. Pope explained that the company needs to first schedule a public hearing, which is required to modify the language in a special permit.

The hearing date is scheduled for the Monday Jan. 5, 2009, City Council meeting. Pope said that the meeting could not be scheduled for the second December meeting because that would not allow enough time for the 14-day advertisement requirement for a public hearing.

Ward 3 Councilor Scott Schafer, who said he has been blamed via e-mail and in person for the delay, reiterated that the committee was not responsible for the fact that the building has yet to open.

"I was shocked," Schafer said, "that I was being blamed for the holdup on this project."

He explained that he visited the site a few weeks ago after inquiries from constituents. After noticing that the lot was still unpaved and unlit, he responded to constituents that there must still be work being done on the building.

"This is the first time it has come back before us … The reason for the delay is the developer," Schafer said.

In other news, the City Council voted to grant Sepracor, a research-based pharmaceutical company located at 84 Waterford Drive, its request for a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) option. The TIF gives the company a tax reduction of $3.8 million to expand its present site from one to three buildings, which would in exchange create 250 new jobs in the city.

Schafer voted in favor of the proposal but advocated for more discussion about the negotiation process of TIFs in the future.

"I want to consider how we go about approaching TIFs … It comes down from the mayor's department and there is not enough of a robust discussion," Schafer said. "I am supporting this … but I am concerned we are on a slippery slope."

Ward 1 Councilor Joseph Delano also approved the TIF.

"This sends a loud and clear message that Marlborough is a business friendly city," he said.

Standing in opposition of the TIF were Ward 2 Councilor Paul Ferro, Pope and Councilor at-Large Steven Levy.

Ferro echoed concerns brought up when first proposed to the council and then again in Finance Committee that the TIF is being given to a company that has already built the building and has already created many of the new jobs.

Delano said that the build- ings were built based on the understanding that they were going to get the TIF.

"We honor our commitments and I hope to get more business like Sepracor," Delano said.

Ward 7 Councilor Donald Landers applauded the mayor and committee for negotiating a favorable contact.

"We will never see TIFs negotiated on the council floor because it is a give and take process like employment contracts," Landers said.